Who is an orthopedic surgeon? And what do they treat?
Orthopedic surgeons focus on preventing, detecting, and treating diseases affecting the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Some orthopedic doctors are generalists, while others are experts in treating specific body parts, like the hip and knee, shoulder and elbow, foot and ankle, hand, or spine.
From infants to adults, orthopedic surgeons care for patients of all ages and can treat fractures, spinal deformities, sports injuries, joint replacement, and other issues. Furthermore, orthopedic surgeons can address disorders that can cause various symptoms, like muscle pain, numbness, weakness, joint pain, stiffness, edema, bone discomfort, limited range of motion, and deformity of the affected area.
Most common orthopedic procedures
The discomfort caused by being unable to engage in your daily routine and the uncertainty of not knowing if your orthopedic condition can improve is undeniably devastating. Finding a procedure that has yielded successful results for your situation can be a relief in such a scenario. The following surgeries are the most commonly performed orthopedic procedures:
- Knee replacement surgery: Deterioration of the cartilage in the knee joints may require either partial or total knee replacement surgery.
- ACL reconstruction surgery: The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is one of the major ligaments in the knee. It provides the knee's rotational stability and controls the leg's front and back motion. To help repair the torn ACL, a tendon segment from another area of the body will be removed and used as a graft.
- Hip replacement surgery: There are two approaches to hip replacement surgery. The conventional method involves replacing the complete ball-and-socket joint with a metal or plastic prosthesis. The Birmingham hip resurfacing technique only replaces the damaged areas, making the procedure less invasive and necessitating a shorter hospital stay.
- Shoulder replacement surgery: During this treatment, the surgeon removes the top of the humerus or upper arm bone to replace it with a metal ball. Later, the socket's injured portion is removed and replaced with a plastic prosthesis.
- Knee arthroscopy: To observe the inside of your knee joint, the surgeon makes a small incision on your knee and inserts a tiny camera attached to their surgical tools. The doctor then performs the surgery while viewing images of your knee on a screen.
- Shoulder arthroscopy: Similar to knee surgery, shoulder arthroscopy is performed on the shoulder.
- Spinal procedures: Spinal surgeries are essential because the spine is the primary structural support for the entire skeletal system. Thankfully, there are methods to carry out multiple spine treatments with little intrusion.
- Ankle repair: During surgery, the out-of-place ankle bones are moved to their proper location and fastened together with implants.
- Joint fusion: In joint fusion, the bones that comprise the joint are joined by welding to improve stability. Patients with arthritis frequently undergo this kind of surgery. It helps remove the damaged cartilage and replace it with a transplant.
- Trigger finger release: The tendons in the fingers extend from the base to the tips. A protective sheath surrounds these tendons, which are responsible for allowing movement and finger bending. When this sheath sustains damage, it swells up. The term "trigger finger" or "stenosing tenosynovitis" refers to this condition. In such a case, doctors perform trigger finger release surgery to release the constricted tendon sheath causing the problem.
How to prepare for an orthopedic surgeon appointment?
If you are going to visit an orthopedic surgeon near you for the first time, you may have many questions on your mind. What should I carry to the appointment? What will the provider ask me? Should I dress up a certain way? Find answers to these and other related questions in the comprehensive appointment preparation guide below:
- Arrive on time with essential documents: During your first appointment, the office staff will help you complete the initial paperwork before you meet the orthopedic surgeon. So, arrive at least 15-20 minutes before the scheduled appointment and bring along documents, including your photo ID, insurance card, personal and emergency contact information, details of other providers in your healthcare team, and a referral letter, if applicable.
- Carry health information: The orthopedic surgeon will ask about your symptoms and review your medical records to understand your condition. Before your appointment, please take a few minutes to write about your symptoms, including what they are, when you first noticed them, what makes them better or worse, how they have been affecting your everyday life, how you have been managing them, and whether you have tried any treatments in the past. Also, carry your medical records, including information about your health conditions, allergies, injuries, surgeries, and medications. Additionally, bring copies of your lab work and imaging test results.
- Dress up based on your condition: It is best to dress in a way that makes it easy for the doctor to conduct a physical examination. For instance, if you have knee pain, consider wearing shorts, or if you have shoulder issues, wear a sleeveless T-shirt. Alternatively, the orthopedic surgeon may ask you to change into a hospital gown. So, wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing that is easy to remove and wear back.
- Write down your questions: Whether you want to discuss alternative treatments or need prevention tips, the orthopedic surgeon will provide detailed answers to all your queries. Prepare a list of questions in advance so you don't forget to ask anything during the appointment.
Recovering from an orthopedic surgery
When faced with the possibility of orthopedic surgery, be it for a sports injury or to resolve the pain caused by persistent wear and tear to a joint, the most common concern is the recovery time it will take for someone to get back to their day-to-day activities. A strong and active body, a healthy mental outlook, and proper nutrition go a long way in helping someone recover from surgery. Let's cover some key factors that may affect the recovery time from orthopedic surgery.
- Age and physical health: A patient's health and self-care habits substantially impact their recovery. Younger patients in excellent or average physical shape usually have a shorter and easier recovery than those with chronic symptoms or a higher body mass index (BMI) and a sedentary lifestyle. These individuals often have a slower recovery. A patient's age impacts the quality of their body tissue and bone health, which is essential to recovery.
- Commitment to recovery: Patients' recovery begins when they leave the operating room. No recovery plan is complete without therapy; it is a crucial part of their journey. An individual's commitment to treatment will significantly impact their recovery time.
- Conditioning level: It is always ideal for anyone to have their body in optimal shape before surgery, which makes recovery easy and speedy.
- Mental preparedness and expectations: Sometimes, individuals are mentally prepared for surgery before the body is physically ready. Patients dealing with chronic pain are more receptive to surgery, as they want to get their injury fixed or their joint replaced. Additionally, mentally preparing yourself for the time it will take to heal your body is also very necessary. For some, it may take a few weeks, and for some, it may take up to a year for recovery.
Orthopedic care for children
Children can experience a variety of bone and joint conditions unique to their age group, necessitating specialized care. Therefore, if your child is facing issues related to bones, joints, or the spine, you should seek the expert care of a pediatric orthopedic surgeon near you.
These specialized surgeons have the appropriate training to address various conditions affecting infants, adolescents, and teenagers. Their expertise encompasses treating limb and spine deformities like clubfoot and scoliosis, fractured limbs, bone and joint infections, and gait abnormalities such as limping, bone tumors, bone cancer, juvenile arthritis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, ankle and foot injuries, among others.
Besides their surgical skills, orthopedic surgeons are adept at working with children and understand how to make them feel comfortable during evaluations. They utilize medical equipment designed for children and often establish a child-friendly environment with toys and other distractions in their offices. Moreover, they know how to communicate effectively with concerned family members.
When you visit a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, their approach may vary based on the patient's age and symptoms during the physical examination. Since younger children may have difficulty articulating their symptoms, parents or guardians are often encouraged to participate in the evaluation process. For instance, parents may be asked to hold their infants while the surgeon performs assessments.
The treatment approach, including the consideration of surgery, depends on the severity of the condition. While some fractures and conditions like hip dysplasia or clubfoot can be manageable with casting and bracing, others may require surgical intervention. Pediatric orthopedic surgeons may also recommend additional therapies, such as supportive devices and physical therapy, to complement surgical treatment when necessary.
How do you enhance your joint health?
Orthopedic issues are becoming more and more prevalent in today's society. Caring for your joints is crucial to enjoying a life without movement restrictions. Here are three tips to enhance your joint health:
- Take vitamins and improve your diet: One of the best and easiest strategies for enhancing orthopedic health is eliminating unhealthy foods. Replace them with more nutritious foods high in calcium, vitamin D, vegetables, and fruits. Take vitamins and supplements that contain them if you're deficient. Increasing the strength of your bones and joints will prevent future orthopedic problems.
- Add a quick exercise routine to your program: Include a workout regimen in your daily routine if you don't have one. You can efficiently work out at home with cardio machines and various exercises. Going for regular walks could also improve your orthopedic health significantly.
- Get the treatment you've been postponing: Delaying orthopedic treatment or therapy almost certainly results in considerably worse future issues. A relatively minor problem could become more complicated if given enough time.
The healthiest foods for your bones
Poor bone health can cause conditions like osteoporosis or joint problems and lead to brittle bones, increasing your risk of fractures from a fall later in life. As mentioned, nutrition is one of the routes to improving joint health. Thus, you can strengthen your bones by including the following foods in your diet:
- Leafy greens: Vegetables contain a significant quantity of calcium. If you consume dairy products, add dark leafy greens like bok choy, collard greens, spinach, and turnip greens to your diet.
- Potatoes: Potatoes and sweet potatoes are good food sources of potassium and magnesium, two minerals many orthopedic experts recommend for strong bones.
- Citrus fruit: A pink grapefruit contains around 91 milligrams of vitamin C, helping satisfy your daily requirement for vitamin C.
- Salmon: Fish, specifically salmon, is rich in vitamin D and omega fats. These nutrients aid calcium absorption in your body.
Finding the best orthopedic surgeon near you in Beverly Hills, California
If you feel pain in your muscles, joints, or bones, contact a doctor immediately to relieve yourself from discomfort and potential problems. Zocdoc allows you to quickly find an orthopedic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California, from the comfort of your home.
To access the list of the top-rated orthopedic surgeons nearby, go to the Zocdoc website and enter your condition or symptoms, location, and insurance. Additionally, you may filter and organize your search results based on the provider's location, hospital affiliation, time of day, gender, languages spoken, and whether or not they see children.
Zocdoc provides information on each healthcare provider's educational background, including their clinical experience, certifications, licenses, awards, and accreditations, to assist you in making a more informed decision. To bolster your judgment, read genuine and reliable patient reviews.
You can also filter the list of orthopedic surgeons near you who are in-network by choosing your insurance provider and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. Zocdoc's insurance filter automatically restricts the results to in-network providers.
No insurance coverage? No problem. You can instead mention "I'm paying for myself" in the search bar to get a list of providers accepting patients without a health plan. Check out our patient help center page for more insurance-related FAQs.
Once you're satisfied, you may book a face-to-face meeting or an online consultation. All appointment bookings on Zocdoc are simple, secure, and free!
Orthopedic Statistics for California
According to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics study, the U.S. employed nearly 14,820 orthopedic surgeons, excluding pediatric surgeons, as of May 2023. California estimates stand at approximately 2,570 orthopedic surgeons, the highest in the U.S.
According to the California Joint Replacement Registry Report (2014-2015), hip and knee replacements are among California's most common and expensive surgeries, with more than 90,000 procedures completed and more than $8.1 billion in yearly hospital and surgeon costs. Furthermore, the number of joint replacements is predicted to increase rapidly, with the U.S. forecast to perform over 4 million treatments annually by 2030.
Sources
OrthoTexas
The Orthopedic Clinic
Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation
Healthline
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons[1]
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons[2]
Dignity Health
U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
American Academy of Pediatrics
WebMD
The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics
Cary Orthopaedics
